Joint for metallic fence-posts.



No. 623,037. Patented Apr. 30, NM. L. SWANK &. J. DWIGGINS. JOINT FOB METALLIC FENCE POSTS.

(Lpplicationflled NOV. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

wi l" ease:

UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

I l 4 LAFE SWANK AND JOHN DWIGGINS, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA;

JOINT FOR M ETALLlC FENCE-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 673,037, dated April 30,1901.

Application filed November 28, 1900. Serial No. 38,044. (No model.)

To otZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, LAFE SWANK and JOHN DWIGGINS, citizens of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county ofMadison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Joints for Metallic Fence-Posts; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to improvements in fences, and particularly to joints for metallic fence-posts, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and effective joint connection between the parts of the posts,whereby the same may be readily applied and removed aud yet are held securely against casual displacement.

To this end the invention consists of cerlain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fence-post embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the joints on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same. I

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents the base, 2 the ornamental top, and 3 the picket rods or tubes, of a fencepost embodying our invention. The upper end of the base and lower end of the top are each provided with a socket member 4, which receives the connecting ends of the pickettubes, of which two, arranged parallel with each other, are employed.

Each socket member 4 is vertical and has two receiving-sockets intersected by a horizontal hole 5, disposed centrally thereof and on a line between the ends of the picket rods or tubes. Through this hole is passed a key 6, which extends between the rods or tubes and I crowds the same in reverse directions outwardly against the end walls of the socket.

.This key is preferably tapered, and when driven through the hole 5 creases or indents the tubes or rods, forming grooves or seats in which it rests, and thus holds said rods or tubes firmly against displacement. By this construction a simple and secure joint connection is afiorded,which permits of the ready disconnection of the parts when desired, but prevents casual separation thereof, and which is neat and tasty in appearance, as no unsightly parts are exposed. The key may be easily driven in by means of a hammer and as readily removed by proper tools.

The construction and mode of operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be seen that a simple, safe, durable, and firm construction of joint is provided. While the joint embodying our invention is primarily designed for connecting the parts of fenceposts, it will of course be understood that it may be employed in other fence parts and accessories without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p A fence-post comprising a base and a top provided, respectively, at their upper and lower ends with socket members each having two receiving-sockets formed therein with a transverse hole intersecting the boundarylines of said sockets, combined with a pair of tubes fitting within saidsockets, and keys driven through the transverse holes of the two socket members to groove said tubes and simultaneously lock them to the base and top, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAFE SWANK.

JOHN DWIGGINS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED ELLISON, CHAS. R. BAGOT. 

